Means for securing vehicle-wheels to axle-arms.



Patented Apr. 9, I90l.

B. D. SEIBERT. MEANS FOR SECURING VEHICLE WHEELS T0 AXLE'A BMS.

(Application filed Sept 29, 1

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. SEIBERT, OF MILLVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR SECURING VEHICLE-WHEELS TO AXLE-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,869, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed September 29, 1900. berial No. 31,569. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT- D. SEIBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Millville, in the county of Columbia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meansfor Securing Vehicle-Wheels to AxleArms; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to means for securing vehicle-wheels to axle-armsin such a manner as to prevent their casual displacement and yet admitof their ready removal for lubrication Without necessitating taking offthe axle-nut, as commonly required.

The invention consists of radially-movable keepers fitted to the outerend of the axlearm and adapted to be projected beyond the sides of saidarm to hold the wheel in place and to be drawn inward, so as to clearthe said sides and admit of the removal of the wheel for any desiredpurpose. A scrollplate cooperates with the keepers to effect a radial oroutward movement thereof. For a full description of the invention andthe merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details ofconstruction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to behad to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features' of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of an axle-arm embodying the invention, thehub portion of the wheel mounted thereon being in section. Fig. 2 is adetail section of the outer end portion of the axle-arm on a largerscale, the dotted lines showing the keepers projected. Fig. 3 is aperspective view ofthe outer end of the axle-arm, the keepers,scroll-plate, and bolt being removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the inner sideof the scroll-plate. Fig. 5 is an obverse, end, and reverse view of akeeper. Fig. 6 is an end view of the axle-arm with the keepers in place.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The axle-arm 1 may be of metal or wood, and in the latter event it isprotected by a skein in the usual manner to sustain the wear and thestrain and load. A series of guidelugs 2 are provided at the outerextremity of the axle-arm and are spaced circumferentially to receivebetween them keepers 3 of segment form. Radial grooves or seatsd areprovided in the outer end of the axle-arm intermediate of the guide-lugs2 to receive lugs 5 at the rear side of the keepers 3 and whichsupplement the action of the lugs2 in directing the keepers in theirradial sliding movements. The guide grooves or seats 4 are closed attheir outer ends to limit the outward movement of the keepers 3 andprevent their radial displacement. In the present instance the aXle-armis of wood and protected by a skein which is provided at its outer endwith the lugs 2 and radial guide-grooves 4E. The keepers 3 are ofsegment form and fit snugly between adjacent guide-lugs 2 and areprovided upon their rear sides with lugs 5 to enter the grooves or seats4; and assist materially in guiding thekeepers in their radial movementsand to prevent displacement by coming in contact with the outer endwalls of the said seats l. Cogs 6 project from the outer faces of thekeepers 3 adjacent to their inner edges and are positioned so as to formsegments of a spiral when the keepers are in position, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 6. The keepers correspond in thickness to the depth ofthe lugs 2, so as to move freely in the space formed between the outerend of the axle-arm and the inner face of the scrollplate. In theirnormal position the outer edges of the keepers clear the sides of thearm, so as to permit the vehicle-wheel to be placed in position or to beremoved, and when projected the outer edge portions of the keepers standbeyond the sides of the axle-arm and overlap the outer end of the hub '7of the vehicle-wheel and retain the latter in place on the axle-arm.

The scroll-plate 8 is provided upon its inner face with a scroll 9 tocooperate with the cogs 6 of the keepers, so as to move the latter in orout, according to the direction of rotation of the scroll-plate. Thescroll 9 maybe either a spirally-formed rib or groove and receives thecogs 6, which are disposed so as to correspond with the pitch of thescroll and accurately match therewith. The scroll plate is mounted upona bolt 10, threaded at its inner end into the axle-arm, the head of thebolt overlapping the outer side of the scrollplate, which is held inplace thereby. In order to admit of the ready turning of thescroll-plate, it is provided upon its outer face with a many-sided boss11, adapted to receive a wrench, spanner, or like tool, by means ofwhich the scroll-plate is turned to efiect either an outward or aninward movement of the keepers. When the scroll-plate is turned to thedesired position, it is held fast by screwing home the bolt 10, whichefiects a clamping of the scroll-plate between the head of the said boltand the outer faces of the guidelugs 2.

In practice, the parts being assembled sub stantiallyas shown in Figs. 1and 2 and it being required to eifect a movement of the keepers, thebolt 10 is loosened sufficiently to admit of the easy turning of thescroll-plate to withdraw or project the keepers, as may be required. Ifthe wheel is to be placed into position or to be removed, thescroll-plate is turned to cause the keepers to move inward andclear thesides against the arm, when the desired result can be accomplished. Whenthe wheel is in position upon the axle-arm, it is retained in place byturning the scrollplate so as to project the keepers 3 beyond the sidesof the axle-arm, as shown by the full lines inFig. 1 and the dottedlines in Fig. 2, after which a tightening of the bolt 10 effects aclamping of the scroll-plate and fixes the position of the keepers, aswill be readily comprehended.

A collar 12 is provided adjacent the shoulder at the inner end of theaxle-arm and acts as a shield to prevent sand,mud,and like foreignmatter entering the bore of the hub and wearing away the contactingsurfaces.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Incombination with an axle-arm, outwardly-movable keepers, a scroll-platecooperating therewith, and a bolt forming a support for thescroll-plate, and clamping means to secure it in an adjusted position,substantially as set forth. i

2. In combination with an axle-arm provided at its outer end with radialgrooves, keepers having lugs upon their rear sides to fit in the saidgrooves to direct the keepers in their radial movements, and ascroll-plate cooperating with the said keepers, as and for the purposeset forth.

3. In combination with an axle-arm provided withcircumferentially-spaced guidelugs, and radial grooves intermediate ofadjacent lugs, keepers fitted between adjacent lugs and having lugs attheir rear sides to enter said guide-grooves, and a scroll-plate movingthe keepers in and out, substantially as set forth.

4:. In combination with an axle-arm, radially-movable keepers havingcogs upon their outer sides disposed to form segments of a spiralthread, and a plate having a scroll matching and codperating with thecogs of the keepers to move the latter in and out, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT D. SEIBERT.

